Letter to Orson Hyde and John E. Page, 14 May 1840

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, LDS church purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas. Served as church headquarters, 1839...

I am happy in being informed by your letter that your mission swells “larger and
larger”; it is a great and important mission, and one that is worthy of those inteligences who
surround the throne of Jehovah to be ingaged in; Altho it appears great at present, yet you
have but just begun to realize the greatness, the extent and glory of the same. If there is
any thing calculated to interest the mind of the saints, to awaken in them the finest
sensibilities; and arouse them to enterprise, and exertion, surely it is the great and
precious promises, made by our heavenly Father to the children of Abraham; and those
engaged in seeking the outcasts of Israel, and the dispersed of Judah, cannot fail to enjoy
the Spirit of the Lord, and have the choisests blessings of Heaven rest upon them in
copious effusions, Bretheren you are in the path way to Eternal Fame! and immortal
Glory; and inasmuch as you feel interested for the covenant people of the Lord, the God
of their Father shall bless you. Do not be discouraged on account of the greatness of the
work; only be humble, and faithful, and then you can say, “what art thou, O, great
mountain, “before Zerubbable shalt thou be brought down” He who scattered Israel has
promised to gather

As directed by early revelations, church members “gathered” in communities. A revelation dated September 1830, for instance, instructed elders “to bring to pass the gathering of mine elect” who would “be gathered in unto one place, upon the face of this land...

them; therefore, inasmuch as you are to be instrumental in this great
work, he will endow

Bestowal of spiritual blessings, power, or knowledge. Beginning in 1831, multiple revelations promised an endowment of “power from on high” in association with the command to gather. Some believed this promise was fulfilled when individuals were first ordained...

you with power, wisdom, might, and inteligence; and every
qualification necessary; while your minds will expand wider and wider, untill you can
circumscribe the Earth, & the Heavens, and reach forth into eternity; contemplate the
mighty acts of Jehovah, in all their variety & glory

In answer to your inquiries, respecting the translation and publication, of the Book
of Mormon, Hymn Book, History of the church

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

, &c, &c; I would say, that I entirely
approve of the same; and give my consent, with the exception of the Hymn Book, as a
new edition, containing a greater variety of Hymns, will be shortly published or printed in
this place; which, I think will be a standard work

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, LDS church purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas. Served as church headquarters, 1839...

I am happy in being informed by your letter that your mission swells “larger and
larger”; it is a great and important mission, and one that is worthy of those inteligences who
surround the throne of Jehovah to be ingaged in; Altho it appears great at present, yet you
have but just begun to realize the greatness, the extent and glory of the same. If there is
any thing calculated to interest the mind of the saints, to awaken in them the finest
sensibilities; and arouse them to enterprise, and exertion, surely it is the great and
precious promises, made by our heavenly Father to the children of Abraham; and those
engaged in seeking the outcasts of Israel, and the dispersed of Judah, cannot fail to enjoy
the Spirit of the Lord, and have the choisests blessings of Heaven rest upon them in
copious effusions, Bretheren you are in the path way to Eternal Fame! and immortal
Glory; and inasmuch as you feel interested for the covenant people of the Lord, the God
of their Father shall bless you. Do not be discouraged on accou[n]t of the greatness of the
work; only be humble, and faithful, and then you can say, “what art thou, O, great
mountain, “before Zerubbable shalt thou be brought down” He who scattered Israel has
promised to gather

As directed by early revelations, church members “gathered” in communities. A revelation dated September 1830, for instance, instructed elders “to bring to pass the gathering of mine elect” who would “be gathered in unto one place, upon the face of this land...

them; therefore, inasmuch as you are to be instrumental in this great
work, he will endow

Bestowal of spiritual blessings, power, or knowledge. Beginning in 1831, multiple revelations promised an endowment of “power from on high” in association with the command to gather. Some believed this promise was fulfilled when individuals were first ordained...

you with power, wisdom, might, and inteligence; and every
qualification necessary; while your minds will expand wider and wider, untill you can
circumscribe the Earth, & the Heavens, and reach forth into eternity; contemplate the
mighty acts of Jehovah, in all their variety & glory

In answer to your inquiries, respecting the translation and publication, of the Book
of Mormon, Hymn Book, History of the church

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

, &c, &c; I would say, that I entirely
approve of the same; and give my consent, with the exception of the Hymn Book, as a
new edition, containing a greater variety of Hymns, will be shortly published or printed in
this place; which, I think will be a standard work

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, LDS church purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas. Served as church headquarters, 1839...

Area settled largely by emigrants from New England and New Jersey, by 1788. Village founded and surveyed adjacent to site of Fort Washington, 1789. First seat of legislature of Northwest Territory, 1790. Incorporated as city, 1819. Developed rapidly as shipping...